The Record: In District 37

DEMOCRATS HAVE such a sizable advantage in the 37th District that one of this year's Republican legislative candidates publicly laments that GOP leaders view the district with "benign neglect" at best. That observation notwithstanding, there's no reason to upset tradition in a district that covers Englewood, Fort Lee, Teaneck and 10 other towns in eastern Bergen County.

The three Democratic incumbents are state Sen. Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck and Assembly members Gordon M. Johnson and Valerie Vainieri Huttle, both of Englewood.

The team deserves reelection over the Republican trio of Senate candidate Paul Duggan of Bogota and Assembly candidates Gino Tessaro of Hackensack and Deirdre Paul of Englewood.

Weinberg four years ago ran with then-Gov. Jon Corzine, seeking to become the state's first lieutenant governor. After Corzine's defeat, she remained in the Senate, and she has now risen to majority leader. Weinberg is a strong voice for women's health issues, gun control and widening public access to government by expanding the state's "Sunshine Law" and Open Public Records Act.

Huttle was instrumental in passing legislation aimed at curtailing bullying in public schools. Johnson joins Weinberg in pushing for the extension of light-rail service into Bergen County, including a mass transit connection to Englewood Hospital. Light-rail service now ends in North Bergen, and expanding it to Bergen County would benefit many.

Duggan, the Republican who made the "benign neglect" comment, disagrees with Governor Christie on some issues. While Christie wisely killed a new passenger rail tunnel under the Hudson River, Duggan says he would have backed it.

Paul, an education professor at Montclair State University, is knowledgeable about the issues. But we were unimpressed when she told our editorial board that she would unequivocally vote in the Assembly to uphold every Christie veto. The public is better served with legislators who are independent thinkers.

Tessaro, a commissioner on the Hackensack Housing Authority, says he wants to cut "red tape" that is blocking development projects in Hackensack and elsewhere. That's a worthy goal, but the Christie administration has created a special red-tape commission to combat bureaucratic obstacles to development.

It's not easy for Republicans to run in a Democratic stronghold like the 37th District, and the three challengers deserve credit for representing their party. But the incumbents deserve reelection; they are articulate advocates for their constituents.

The Record endorses Loretta Weinberg for state Senate and Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon M. Johnson for state Assembly in the 37th District.